Page 25 - NIS English January 16-31
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provide the new definition of social perceptions.
Special attention on The Government has constituted a task force
to change the Sarda Act-1978 in order to give
health & nourishment equal opportunities to women. The task force is
charged with determining the minimum age of
To promote better health in women, the marriage; presently minimum age for marriage
Government is selling sanitary pads at Re 1 of girls is 18 years. With an aim of providing
each.Pradhanmantri Janaushadhi Kendras relief to women suffering from violence, the
sold more than 7 Crore sanitary pads so far Government has recently approved the Medical
which are now being made GST free Termination Pregnancy Act, wherein the
Under Mission Indradhanush, over 90 Lakh deadline for abortion has been increased from
pregnant women were vaccinated. Every 20 weeks to 24 weeks. Paid maternity leave
household was provided with toilets under has been extended from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
Swachh Bharat Mission for the dignity of Breaking social taboos, for the first time, the
women Prime Minister mentioned sanitary pad from the
Maternity leave has been increased from Red Fort. Addressing the nation, Prime Minister
12 weeks to 26 weeks. For the first time Narendra Modi said, “This Government has also
crèches were started in every office for the been persistently concerned about the better
working women healthcare for poor sisters and daughters. We
Since 2017, Rs 7,411 Crore have been have done a huge job of providing sanitary pads
disbursed under Poshan Scheme at Re 1 each at Janaushadhi Kendras. In a short
Maternal mortality rate was reduced to 113 span of time, more than 5 Crore sanitary pads
during 2016-18 from 122 during 2015-17 have been delivered to these poor women from
and 130 during 2014-16 6,000 Janaushadhi Kendras.” Today, women
More than 1.82 Crore women have been are free, economically empowered, equipped
benefitted from Pradhan Mantri Matru with determination, have a sense of security and
Vandana Yojana with over Rs 7,849 Crore are not just dreaming, but also realising it, the
directly transferred to their accounts major reason behind this is the change in the
mindset considering women as inferior beings.
Over 32,000 women entrepreneurs Times have changed from “What if it’s a girl” to
are registered on Government “Wow! It’s a girl!” Try and feel this new change of
e-Market Place (GeM) portal which thinking towards women empowerment like this.
has ensured participation of women in Imagine you are the elected leader of 1.3 Billion
small and medium industries people, a global statesman with the highest
following on various social media platforms and
you make seven women, each with her own
inspiring tale of determination, passion and
the lack of an anti-child marriage law were done service, take over your accounts. How would
away with, by making Article 370 and Article 35A you feel then? Such a scenario may seem
inoperative. Further, strict action will be taken unheard of. But this is how the Prime Minister
against those non-resident Indians who abandon chose to celebrate the International Women’s
their wives post marriage. Day. This act, itself, was symbolic of the way in
Social Empowerment which the women of New India are scaling new
The women centric initiatives of the Government heights, encouraged in word and in action by the
Government at every step.
New India Samachar 23
